Chris Considine will be inducted into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame during the NSGA Leadership Conference in Palm Spring Gardens, FL, May 20. His philosophy of “honor the past and lead to the future” served him well in his 40-plus years in the sporting goods industry.

Considine joined Wilson Sporting Goods in 1982 after graduating from Miami (Ohio) University as a sales planning assistant and worked in various executive roles, as VP–sales and promotion, GM of footwear, president of the Team Sports Division and president from 2005 to 2014. Wilson secured multiple technology patents and launched Solution and Evolution basketballs, the GST football and the revitalized A2000 baseball glove franchise under his leadership.

Wilson also strengthened connections with professional and collegiate athletes under Considine’s leadership through endorsement contracts with Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Greg Maddux and Mike Krzyzewski. During Considine’s tenure, Wilson also signed tennis pros Roger Federer and sisters Serena and Venus Williams to the Wilson advisory staff.

Considine founded Onward Advising in 2014 and has been the CEO of True Sports since 2020. He has led revenue growth as True Temper golf shafts, the number one brand on the PGA Tour, True Hockey, the fastest-growing hockey brand, and 44Pro custom ball gloves, used by pro and collegiate players. Considine has also been committed to keeping manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and served on the advisory board of the Positive Coaching Alliance.

Team Insight goes One-on-One with Considine as he prepares for his induction into the Hall.

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Team Insight: What does your Hall of Fame induction mean to you personally?

Considine: It is a tremendous honor and humbling. I’ve always worked very hard and tried to do the right thing. I never thought about awards like this; I was just doing my job and trying to make a difference. I was fortunate to work with outstanding people who had great passion and commitment and work for tremendous brands in Wilson and True Temper Sports. This recognition is a celebration of these people and brands.

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What has been your career focus?

This may not be typical, but I never set out a career path to become the president/CEO or anything like that. My attitude was to do the job in front of me to the best of my ability. Be authentic and unconditionally be good to everyone I come into contact with. Try to make a difference and do it with passion and keep it fun.

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Thinking back to the “old days.” What was your favorite part of your career journey?

The entire journey has been a blast. It is the relationships that were forged over the years with our sales people and customers. As I took on senior roles, the sales group kept me grounded. At Team Sports sales meetings, several of our sales managers – Bud Horton, John Tyson and John Bailey – would invite me to a 6 a.m. coffee in Bud’s room so that they could educate me on the real world and tell me what I needed to get working on. I loved those “performance reviews.”

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You come from a sales background. What was your sales philosophy at that time?

The relationships with customers are also fond memories. There are too many to list, but as I developed trust I found that I wanted to work harder for my customers. It was like selling to a friend. There’s a saying I use: “Make a friend first, worry about an order later.”

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How did you start out at Wilson?

My first real job at Wilson was as a tennis specialty salesman. This was late 1982-83, which was the lowest point in Wilson’s tennis business. Prince was the leading racket company and we were still trying to support our wood tennis racket factory and the market had changed dramatically. In addition, we launched the short-lived Wilson Vitamins at the same time. Not good. I figured if I could survive this, I could survive anything. Wilson is a strong brand. We got our tennis act back together.

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Did you work with (fellow Hall of Famer) Jim Baugh back then?

Jim Baugh joined Wilson and we reclaimed our leadership position and the rest is history. Jim and I were GMs together (Racket and Team Sports) and he was then named president/CEO and I followed him as president/CEO years later. He is a great guy and his passion for his work sets the bar for many of us.

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Did you ever get to go one-on-one with Michael Jordan?

I never got to play one-on-one with Michael Jordan, but I did get to be his chauffeur for a day. I had sold an insane number of Michael Jordan red and black Air Attack basketballs to Montgomery Wards and they requested he come for an afternoon to sign balls for their customers. I picked Michael up at his house and drove him to the Oak Brook store for a three-hour autograph signing. No security. No nothing. Can you imagine?

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How about returning a serve from Roger Federer?

Roger Federer is the best. All his fame and fortune never went to his head. I remember on his only off day at Wimbledon he made time to see my wife Teresa and I and they compared notes on raising twins. He has a kindness, grace and humility that is special.

Any other sports stories?

I did get to play one-on-one with Kevin McHale. He could literally block every one of my shots if he wanted to.  

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How about a golf story?

I’ve had the good fortune to play golf with many athletes. One memorable round was a Pro-Am with Scottie Scheffler. The fourth hole at TPC Southwind is a par three with water and a bunker short left. Scottie hits his shot in the bunker. I hit next from tees that are 60 yards closer and hit mine in the same trap. As we walk off the tee, I say we need to do closest to pin for one dollar. We get up there and his lie is impossible — downhill, fried egg. He hits it over the green. I have perfect lie, hit it up to 15 feet. Easy peezy.

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Do you miss The Super Show and the NSGA World Expo? (I know I do.)

I definitely miss the NSGA and Super Shows. There was an energy and camaraderie that existed then. Times change and that’s all good, but we have some incredible memories from these shows. One year we had Chris Evert, Gene Sarazen, Joe Montana, John Elway, Payne Stewart and others in our booth all at the same time.

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How have you seen the team sports business change since then?

Team sports has changed quite a bit over these last years. The market has seen consolidation. Technology has made a tremendous difference in terms of products, development, ordering, service, fundraising, etc. What hasn’t changed is the importance of relationships.

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What’s your role at True Sports these days?

For the last five years I have been the president and CEO at True Temper Sports. I will complete Board work for them the balance of this year.

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Any hobbies/pastimes our readers should know about you?

I am a family guy. My wife Teresa and I are high school sweethearts and have been married 43 years. We have four children – Sara, Megan, Daniel and David – and I cherish our family time. I enjoy golfing and am a basketball nut. Proof of this is the underground gym we added off the back of the house.

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Any message you want to send to the team sporting goods industry on the eve of your induction into the Hall of Fame?

I feel fortunate to have been in the team sporting goods industry for all these years. Team sports is part of the fabric of our country and the work we do matters. Things are constantly changing and we should always support those initiatives that promote people moving. This focus needs to be on the average person, not the elite athletes. I would like to see more joy at the fields of play; there is too much angst today.

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Finally, what’s the future hold for Chris Considine?

I am excited for the next phase of my life. I want to share some of my experience and perspective to pay it forward and help where I can. This can take several forms and I am working on some of these initiatives now. My family is a priority. My wife Teresa is an amazing person and I look forward to being around a little more, traveling with her and spending time with our family.  It will be an adventure.

The Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame induction ceremony on May 20 will recognize the Class of 2025: John Cardinal (Cardinal’s Sport Center), Chris Considine (Wilson) and E.J. “Ned” Hamilton (Peter Glenn Ski & Sports).